Vos wins sprint to claim stage 6 of Vuelta Femenina

MADRID, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) claimed a narrow sprint victory in Stage 6 of the Vuelta Femenina (Women's Tour of Spain) on Friday.

Vos edged out compatriot Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) in a photo finish after the 126.7-kilometer stage from Becerril de Campos to Baltanas, northwest of Madrid. New Zealand's Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) completed the podium on a predominantly flat stage that favored sprinters.

Liane Lippert (Movistar) attempted a surprise attack on an uphill section 14 km from the finish, prompting Vos, overall leader Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) to collaborate to reel her in. Lippert launched another attack but was again neutralized by Vos and Bredewold, who retained enough energy to dominate the uphill sprint.

"I'm very happy, and exhausted, to be honest. We knew as a team that today was a chance for us, we wanted to go all-in, and we did. In the end it was really close, so I'm happy I could just take it," said Vos post-race.

The green jersey holder added that the stage featured "long, straight, open roads with not a lot of wind, but enough wind to make it hard." ■